Grieving Overdose Death

Blake

April 20, 2024 18:39 - 33 minutes - 22.7 MB

If you wanted to find Blake, you only had to go to the fire station down the street from his house. At a very young age, he already knew that he wanted to be a fire fighter. He was an excellent violin player and enjoyed karate. He was introduced to drugs from an acquaintance of his girlfriend at a young age. He sought help and was sober for a long period of time until troubles came his way while he was serving in Philadelphia as a Fire Service Paramedic. His mom, Rochelle “got the call” abou...

Charles (Buddy)

April 14, 2024 21:24 - 25 minutes - 15.9 MB

Charles (also known as Buddy) was an old soul. At a very young age, he would sit and talk to his aunt like he was the same age, and he treasured his family. He loved to travel, had lots clothes, and collected all types of sneakers. He was prescribed a pain medication after a serious car accident that started him on the road to his addiction. He passed away in April 2022 when he was 34. His mother, Tawanda, copes by wearing her son’s shirt every day, talking about him with others, and listeni...

Becca

February 11, 2024 19:40 - 54 minutes - 41.7 MB

Becca was a wild child who grew into a confident, young adult and was able to talk to anybody. Her passions included animals, theater and music. She was also a talented artist who fell in love with tattoos and thought of the human body as a canvas. After a tragic event in her early teens, she self-medicated with marijuana and then other drugs. In January 2021, she passed away at 22 from fentanyl poisoning. Her mother, Sarah, wants to break the stigma about addiction and speaks to school grou...

Stephen

January 21, 2024 20:46 - 39 minutes - 33.1 MB

Stephen lit up any room he walked into and was the guy who made others laugh. He was a musician who played guitar and piano, a welder who used his talents to make artwork, and a world traveler. His addiction to pain medication began soon after having a wisdom tooth extracted while he was in the navy. His addiction progressed over ten years until he died from fentanyl poisoning in March 2022 at the age of 32. His mother, Andree, honors his memory by displaying a Christmas tree in her front ya...

Samantha

November 19, 2023 22:47 - 39 minutes - 27.2 MB

Samantha was stubborn, strong-willed, and struggled with authority. However, she also loved fiercely, was passionate in what she believed in, and was always there when you needed a friend. Her sister, Brittany, would call her about everything and knew she could always count on her. When Samantha broke up with her boyfriend of eight years, she turned to an old friend for companionship who was dealing drugs. He turned her on to cocaine to help with her depression. One night, the line she took ...

David

September 15, 2023 20:17 - 27 minutes - 17.9 MB

David had a great job, loved hunting, sports, and was very involved with his family. His cousin, Rosalie, describes him as a “boy’s boy.” In April 2021, Rosalie received a call from one of his three brothers telling her the tragic news—David had passed away due to an accidental overdose. She copes with her grief by remembering her cousin through poetry. Below are two of her poems dedicated to her cousin, David. Everlasting Age In the time of aging, you no longer are. I’m where you remain...

Jessica

March 05, 2023 19:57 - 1 hour - 39.6 MB

Jessica wanted to help others and thought about working professionally as a nurse. She loved children, would help out at summer camps, and had several babysitting positions. She was always the one people would call if they needed help. When she was around 17, she was in a car accident and was prescribed opioids for her pain. She went from using opioids to other drugs and, eventually, started using heroin, and died in 2017 at 36 from fentanyl poisoning. Her older sister, Rosanne, tried ever...

Michael & Bridget

February 09, 2023 20:04 - 38 minutes - 25.4 MB

Meggie describes how she and her three siblings were a close-knit group of four who faced everything together when they were growing up. However, in 2015, her older brother, Michael, 28, died from an accidental overdose which fueled a raging addiction in her mom and little sister, Bridget. In 2022, things took a turn for the worse when her mom died from liver failure due to drug and alcohol abuse and then, 40 days later, Bridget, 31, was found in her bed from an accidental overdose. Meggie c...

Nicky, Steven & Cindy

January 19, 2023 22:07 - 51 minutes - 46.2 MB

Angela lost three of her four siblings (Nicky, Steven & Cindy): two passed away from an overdose and one from a massive heart attack. She remembers them with pictures and other special mementos, and by telling their stories. She copes by keeping busy with helping to raise her sisters’ children, plus listening to grief podcasts, attending grief meetings, and reading books such as, “It’s OK That You’re NOT OK” by Megan Devine. She also plans to participate in National Fentanyl Awareness Day sp...

Jack

December 04, 2022 21:58 - 42 minutes - 25.4 MB

Jack was an excellent student, and enjoyed sports throughout his elementary and high school years. He graduated from college with a major in actuarial science and landed his first job. But his mother, Maribeth, said he worked very long hours, and although he sometimes said he enjoyed it, she thought the isolation and long hours were very stressful for him. He left his job and eventually became a bicycle courier. He suffered for 10 years from depression, and later developed an addiction to he...

Nickoli

October 17, 2022 17:15 - 23 minutes - 13.5 MB

Nickoli was a beautiful soul who never felt like he was heard or loved. His mother died from an overdose when he was very young, he didn’t know his father, and he was shuffled among family until he landed in his forever home with his adoptive mom, Angelique. From the day he joined her family, he called her mom and her children considered him an older brother. He passed away from a fentanyl overdose when he was only 18 in 2021. This epidemic is horrible and is taking our youth, says Angelique...

Brandi

June 20, 2022 19:57 - 1 hour - 59.9 MB

Brandi had a typical childhood: she participated in sports, dance, girl scouts; went on family vacations; and had lots of family get-togethers. But as she got older, she became argumentative and got into a lot of trouble. It wasn’t until her sister, Kaylee, was taking a psychology course that she determined that her sister fit the description of someone with bipolar disorder. At first Brandi smoked pot but got mixed up with opioids after this was prescribed after her second pregnancy. She pa...

Aaron

June 05, 2022 21:10 - 47 minutes - 25.7 MB

Aaron loved music, debating, and getting together with friends and family. He was also an avid reader and taught himself to read before he even started school. His mom, Sheryl, was his biggest fan. However, Aaron dropped out of school at a young age and started down the wrong path. After he turned 22, Sheryl got the call that no parent wants to get. At first, Sheryl coped by listening to this podcast and later joined with other moms who lost a child. She felt very strongly about paying it fo...

Josh

May 01, 2022 20:53 - 36 minutes - 17.5 MB

Josh was a great person who happened to have both the disease of addiction and the disease of depression. It was his birth father who introduced Josh to heroin when he was 13 years old, setting up his path to a lifelong habit. He overdosed from fentanyl poisoning in a sober house in 2016 when he was 32, leaving behind his beautiful daughter, Grace. He is still remembered by so many today, according to his mom, Susan. He bought food for struggling addicts, helped addicts get to meetings, and ...

Jillian

April 20, 2022 22:01 - 1 hour - 48.9 MB

Jillian was a “very wanted baby” who was a good student and could make anyone laugh, according to her mom, Jackie. As she got older, she became depressed and suffered from anxiety, and turned to alcohol and marijuana. In later years, she joined a gang and was introduced to methamphetamines. She tried to become sober but her addiction was terminal until her death at age 21 in February 2022. Jackie is filled with both overwhelming grief and relief that her daughter is free of pain, depression,...

Kristina

February 10, 2022 23:08 - 55 minutes - 33.7 MB

Kristina was a straight “A” student who loved cheerleading, dancing and gymnastics. Life was wonderful with her parents and older sister, Michelle, until she turned 15 and was introduced to heroin by her boyfriend. From that time, her life was a struggle to stay clean. Everything seemed to be going well in January 2022, when she had a relapse. When called to her parent’s home, Michelle describes how the paramedics only saw an addict, branded her a junkie and did not try to save her. In her q...

Jason

November 10, 2021 18:39 - 56 minutes - 39.8 MB

Jason loved learning and was a joy to be around. He dreamt of being a pilot and set out on his life’s journey. However, during his first college semester, he broke his elbow, was placed on pain medication and everything changed. He dropped out of college and spent many years in the throes of addiction. His mom, Dianne, dreaded getting “the call” and on July 1st, 2019, that day came when she found our Jason had passed away at 34. Dianne tries to concentrate on not asking “why” but asking ho...

Interview with a Grief Psychologist

July 05, 2021 19:34 - 29 minutes - 24.7 MB

Samantha Ruth is not only a psychologist who helps those dealing with their grief, she also knows loss firsthand after her husband died unexpectedly. Her mission is to change the way the world views both grief and mental health, so people can openly speak about whatever issues they have and get the help they need without fear of judgment, labels, and repercussions. She talks with “Grieving Overdose Death” about dealing with grief from an overdose, why this grief is unique, and ways people ...

Miranda

June 27, 2021 22:02 - 1 hour - 58 MB

From an early age, Miranda loved animals. At any given time, she had as many as three cats, three dogs, five chickens, a parakeet, a horse, as well as fish and rodents. She went on to become a certified pet care technician at age 11, and a wrangler at 16. Even in these happy times, Miranda suffered from mental illness and was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology since she found the subject of mental health fascinating. At the young age of 25...

Noel

April 10, 2021 20:33 - 42 minutes - 26 MB

At 35, Noel was on a great path after being clean for a long time. He was in an accelerated nursing program, was a daddy to a beautiful daughter, and had everything to live for. But then COVID-19 hit, and his mom, Kathleen, feels that it had a lot to do with his relapse since he was alone and studying virtually. Isolation is not good for anyone suffering from this disease and so many more people are meeting the same fate at this time, she said. Kathleen remembers her son with the following...

Mary Kate

March 21, 2021 18:32 - 40 minutes - 23.9 MB

Mary Kate loved the ‘60s: the colorful clothes, the message of peace & love, and the rock music like Pink Floyd. Her mom, Carol, said her daughter was born in the wrong decade. Everything changed when Mary Kate started losing weight and her parents found out that she had been using drugs. They were able to check Mary Kate into rehab, where she was sober for 15 months before she was found passed away in her sober-living residence when she was 22. It has been a tragic journey for Carol who has...

Melody

February 28, 2021 21:01 - 56 minutes - 35.5 MB

When Melody was born, she was named for peace, love and harmony. She lit up a room with her smile and was hilarious without ever knowing she was funny. All that changed after she tried heroin and addiction took over her life. Her mom, Toni, remembers how super close they were through her teenage years and beyond. Tragically, this vibrant, beautiful young woman died at 31 in November 2019, six months after her son was born. Toni struggles with the tug of war between the joys of caring for her...

Johnny (A sister's perspective)

February 15, 2021 22:38 - 23 minutes - 19.6 MB

Joanne remembers everyone liking her brother Johnny. He had the happiest and loudest laugh, and the biggest and best hugs. He was great at soccer, and track & field, and won many awards. They hung out together since they were close in age and were referred to as the favorite brother/sister combination. But all that changed when Johnny succumbed to mental illness and addiction for most of his adult life, and he died from an accidental overdose in 2018. Joanne advises others in her situation t...

Johnny

January 02, 2021 22:35 - 32 minutes - 25.6 MB

Suzanne’s son, Johnny, suffered from addiction until she got the knock on her door she was dreading and was told the news she never wanted to hear. Her son had died from an overdose at the age of 46. Johnny’s younger years were hopeful when he was studying to be a medical doctor, but he succumbed to mental illness and addiction for most of his adult life. When Suzanne thinks of her son no longer on Earth, it is hard for her to breathe. She wants others dealing with someone in addiction to hu...

Johnny (A mother's perspective)

January 02, 2021 22:35 - 32 minutes - 25.6 MB

Suzanne’s son, Johnny, suffered from addiction until she got the knock on her door she was dreading and was told the news she never wanted to hear. Her son had died from an overdose at the age of 46. Johnny’s younger years were hopeful when he was studying to be a medical doctor, but he succumbed to mental illness and addiction for most of his adult life. When Suzanne thinks of her son no longer on Earth, it is hard for her to breathe. She wants others dealing with someone in addiction to hu...

Elaine

December 20, 2020 14:31 - 44 minutes - 41.7 MB

Elaine was a world traveler who had a passion for cooking, and loved all types of music from rock ‘n roll to reggae. She had her daughter, Stephanie, later in life at age 38, and they shared a very close relationship. However, Elaine was addicted to alcohol as far back as Stephanie can remember. A few months ago, the day came that Stephanie dreaded for so long when her mom passed away from her addiction. Stephanie is dealing with never hearing her mom’s voice and laugh again, never being abl...

Quincie

October 06, 2020 19:56 - 32 minutes - 21.8 MB

Quincie loved hunting and riding his motorcycle; loved his children, family and friends; and was a really good cook. But he also put his family through 10 years of heartache and pain as his addiction grew from marijuana to heroin. He passed away at the age of 31 from an accidental overdose while living in a halfway house. His mother, Jennifer, is coping with her son’s death through activism. She posts regularly about addiction on Facebook and her Twitter account (@_jennystarfish_) and was re...

Maddy

October 03, 2020 15:55 - 53 minutes - 32.4 MB

Maddy was a young woman of extremes—a soft, kind and gentle heart with a powerful, fierce and stubborn mind. She never quite understood the word, “No”, subsequently she could always open your mind to try and see things her way. She excelled at school, winning a partial scholarship to a university where she planned on being a lawyer. However, from an early age she fought against a smothering internal cloud of depression which led her to substance abuse. At the tender age of 20 in July 2020, s...

Mayson

September 14, 2020 23:20 - 32 minutes - 21.3 MB

Mayson was a free spirit who was passionate about music and cooking. He was a self-taught guitar player at nine-years-old, and also learned the piano, trumpet and French horn. Even though he had a close relationship with his mother, Amanda, and his family, he had a troubled youth and was expelled from multiple schools mainly for drug use. At 22, he was living on his own, working and appeared to be doing well. However, in August 2020, Amanda received a message from a Chaplain who broke the ne...

Kevin

April 12, 2020 19:30 - 30 minutes - 18.9 MB

Kevin tried for years to free himself from his addiction but lost the battle at 41 years old in January 2019. His sister, Sherry, talks about how they stuck together like glue after suffering from abuse during their childhood. Sherry says that Kevin protected her even though he was only five years old. When Kevin felt they were finally safe, he numbed his pain from the abuse with marijuana which escalated into other drugs. Sherry tells others to be kind and show love to those in their life s...

Jackson S

March 22, 2020 23:05 - 31 minutes - 18.6 MB

Jackie was expecting to celebrate her son Jackson’s 20th birthday on January 11th but instead she was called to the hospital where Jackson passed away from an accidental overdose. Jackson was an amazing kid and a gifted athlete at 6’4” and 220 lbs. He wrestled and played football throughout high school. He also loved video games, cooking, crafting, fishing and hunting. Jackie cherishes her relationship with her son and would always tell him, “I will love you forever.” Jackie says to others o...

Penn

March 08, 2020 23:37 - 45 minutes - 26 MB

Carol knew her son, Penn, had issues with alcohol but never imagined he had started using other substances until he passed away from an overdose in 2017. Penn grew up in a typical household in which he was an active member of the scouts, went camping with his family, and attended church. However, he was prone to panic attack and anxiety while in high school, and felt he had depression. He attended college and eventually worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant when Carol received a visit from...

Joseph

January 31, 2020 02:54 - 36 minutes - 22.2 MB

Joseph’s ambitions of working as an airplane mechanic were cut short after a car accident landed him in surgery where he was given pain medication. When his pain medicine prescription ran out, he searched out relief illegally. His mother, Jean, never suspected that her son had become addicted until he confessed and asked for help. It was a journey that ended when he passed away a few years later at the age of 23. Jean now helps manage a drug prevention grant for two counties to warn children...

Sean

December 23, 2019 00:39 - 59 minutes - 39.1 MB

Caitlin, 22, tried to brace herself for her dad’s (Sean) death since she knew of his addiction, but when her mom told her that her dad had died from an accidental overdose, her heart broke. Sean, 57, will never walk her down the aisle or hold his grandchildren. Caitlin has found solace by attending GRASP meetings http://grasphelp.org/m/ and talking about her dad with others to keep his memory alive. If you would like to tell your story about an overdose death, please contact Susan Claire a...

Jade

December 08, 2019 21:31 - 1 hour - 48.6 MB

In her mom Stephanie’s words, Jade was born defying convention. She lived life as an unapologetic original; and was a fiercely loyal friend and champion of her fellow woman. She loved books and detested anything that was ordinary. She was a devotee of glamour and glitter but her thousand watt smile was never outshone. Jade was 26 when she was found by her roommate after an accidental overdose leaving behind two children and a mom who is trying to find meaning in her death. If you would lik...

Allison

December 01, 2019 20:09 - 43 minutes - 26.3 MB

Allison told her mom, Leah, that she started using meth to help her keep up with three children, a job and everything else in her life. But then it got out of control and her mom, Leah, feels that Allison was high when she got into an accident that ended her life while driving a four-wheeler. Leah says she is in the “anger” stage and going through trauma counseling to deal with the death of her daughter and her son, Dustin, who died at four months in 1989. She recommends others use www.grief...

Catherine

November 09, 2019 19:38 - 40 minutes - 24.9 MB

Catherine graduated high school at the top of her class in 2011 and, only six years later in 2017, her life was taken by an accidental overdose. She was a beautiful, intelligent, absolutely brilliant, complex human, according to her mother, Rose. Rose said she wants to share Catherine’s story and spread awareness on what can be done to prevent death in case of overdose so her daughter’s death is not in vain. She will fight for “The Good Samaritan Law”, already passed in many states, to be pa...

Steven

October 11, 2019 01:20 - 33 minutes - 19.7 MB

Steven relapsed after 18 years of sobriety after he was prescribed pain medication for lymphoma. He traveled from Oregon to Arizona for help, and to eventually move his family. He got the help he needed and was sober for 63 days. Unfortunately, he decided to use one last time and was found by police passed away sitting underneath a tree. Melissa who was married to Steven for 19 years says she is carrying out Steven’s mission to help others and to never give up hope. If you would like to te...

Jackson

September 22, 2019 20:39 - 57 minutes - 33.5 MB

At a very young age, Jackson found a love of music which propelled him into a career as a musician and actor. He appeared in the 2011 film “Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer”, and the ABC sitcom “The Goldbergs” as Ari Caldwell. He also performed in episodes of “Modern Family” and “Arrested Development”. His music was featured in “Forever My Girl”. Jodi talks about how drugs became part of her son’s life, how he struggled to break free, and how he met his tragic end. A few days after recor...

Michael C

September 09, 2019 00:56 - 52 minutes - 34.5 MB

Michael C. was a spontaneous and creative person who lived his life with compassion and without judgment. In junior high school, he developed an interest in skateboarding and it became a huge part of his life. However, he also discovered alcohol and drugs, which may have helped with his anxiety but also changed his outlook on life. He progressed in his addiction until he died at 23 from an accidental overdose. His father, Jim, recalls a happy childhood with Michael, and how addiction grabbed...

Mitchell

August 26, 2019 00:32 - 19 minutes - 12.9 MB

Cherish fell in love with Mitchell who was tall and handsome soon after they met. There was a special bond they shared right from the start of their relationship. They moved in and were expecting a baby when Mitchell’s addiction became out of control. He tried rehab and was his old self but it didn’t last long, and he died from an accidental overdose in January 2019 after five years together. Cherish tells her story, how she is coping, and how others living through this tragedy need to somet...

Saige

August 03, 2019 16:19 - 45 minutes - 28.1 MB

Ellen’s daughter, Saige, 23, overdosed and died in an airport bathroom in 2018 waiting for an airplane to take her to a California rehab with her ticket still clutched in her hand. Addiction took over after Saige was prescribed oxycodone by her dentist after having her four wisdom teeth extracted. Ellen is working with her legislator to pass a bill for dentists to ask patients about family history of addiction and alternative pain medications before prescribing an opioid. Saige’s story will ...

Michael

July 16, 2019 23:22 - 34 minutes - 22.9 MB

Vincenza’s son Michael passed away over two years ago in February 2017 from an accidental overdose when he was 27. He was the clown of the family and entertained his brother, sister and parents with the entire Monty Python script. He loved to draw, work with metal, and dreamt of traveling the country in a converted bus. Whatever he did, he was very driven and in put in his whole heart and soul. Vincenza advises others who are facing this tragedy to take one day at a time, and remember to gri...

Jeffrey W.

June 29, 2019 20:53 - 46 minutes - 29.3 MB

Alice’s husband Jeffrey passed away in September 2017 from an accidental overdose when he was in his late 50s. They were married for over 10 years when this unexpected tragedy occurred, and has caused angry feelings between her and her husband’s family. Jeffrey loved horses, traveled all over the world, and spent over 20 years in the computer industry. Alice is trying to move on and learn to live in a world without her husband by just taking it day-by-day. If you would like to tell your st...

Jeffrey W

June 29, 2019 20:53 - 46 minutes - 29.3 MB

Alice’s husband Jeffrey passed away in September 2017 from an accidental overdose when he was in his late 50s. They were married for over 10 years when this unexpected tragedy occurred, and has caused angry feelings between her and her husband’s family. Jeffrey loved horses, traveled all over the world, and spent over 20 years in the computer industry. Alice is trying to move on and learn to live in a world without her husband by just taking it day-by-day. If you would like to tell your st...

Garrett

June 07, 2019 12:12 - 43 minutes - 26.5 MB

Brenda’s son, Garrett, died in a hotel room almost a year ago at the age of 37. His passions included cars and football. In fact, he was born on a Super Bowl Sunday. His favorite team was the Philadelphia Eagles in which Brenda still cheers on and looks forward to watching. He attended college where he studied political science and computers. Besides his mom, he leaves behind a brother and sister, and a son who recently turned 10 and lives with his mom. Brenda works with different groups to ...

Melly

May 21, 2019 21:43 - 46 minutes - 27.9 MB

Carol’s daughter, Melly, died at home a year-and-a-half ago at the age of 21. Melly was a petite blonde with a smile that would light up a room, and who had the cutest voice and the sweetest personality. She loved painting, gardening, shopping, make-up and hair, and had aspirations of one day being a chef. Carol feels there should be changes in how law enforcement officials handle overdoses and has reached out to her state lawmakers to adopt practices such as having a mental health professio...

Jeffrey

April 30, 2019 23:26 - 41 minutes - 33.1 MB

James’ son, Jeffrey, died four years ago at the age of 24. Jeffrey shared in running the family’s bicycle shop and had a unique way of connecting to all people regardless of their status. He loved working in the business so much that his goal was to eventually run his own place. James says he grieves publicly about his son’s death from an accidental overdose and has organized many outreach projects in his community including dispensing Narcan from his shop. He hopes to raise awareness throug...

Hannah

April 14, 2019 22:30 - 55 minutes - 53.2 MB

Lea's daughter, Hannah, died three years ago when she was 21. Lea talks about how her young life was cut short after a promising career in nursing, her personal struggles after finding Hannah in her bedroom when she was unaware of her addiction, how she is coping by connecting through others with a local grief group called "You Are Not Alone", and living the life that Hannah would have wanted for her.

Grieving Overdose Death Introduction

April 14, 2019 21:49 - 8 minutes - 8.17 MB

This podcast was created to give a voice to those who have lost someone close to them from an accidental overdose. Everyday people will be interviewed to celebrate the life of their loved one who died from an overdose and to remember this person as more than their addiction. We will explore how others cope and pass on this information to others who are grieving and feel they have nowhere to turn. Unfortunately, there are many out there and the numbers are growing everyday. If you would like ...

Grieving Overdose Death

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